Folding go-cart.



No. 563,141. PATBNTBD JUNE 14, 1904. J.- B. RoHRBR.

FGLDING l(H1-(mm3.

APPLIUATION FILEDOOT. 16, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Patented June 14, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN B. ROHRER, OF FRANKFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING GO-CART.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 762,441, dated June 14, 1904.

Application iiled October 16, 1903. Serial No. 177,346. (No model.)

To all whom, it muy concern.-

Be it known that I, J oHN B. ROHRER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Frank-f sists in the details of construction and com-- bination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referringtothe aocompanyingdrawings,forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved go-cart, all of the parts being in their normal position, a portion of the same being broken away to show the interior; Fig. 2, a plan view of the go-cart extended; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the go-cart folded; Fig. 4, a perspective View of the go cart partially folded.

A represents the ytwo large wheels of the go-cart, which are journaled in sliding blocks B, which blocks are held within the boxes C, a spring O being' interposed between the top of the block B and the box C. The two boxes O are connected together by a folding brace D, this brace consisting of two parts, one end of each part being hinged together at the center. The body E of the cart is held by means of the boxes C, to which it issecured, and this body consists of the sides F, which sides are joined together by the folding bottom G, which bottom consists of two leaves hinged together at the center and each leaf being being hinged to one side, so that the bottom may fold upward, as shown in Fig. 4. The.

back consists of'a folding strip H, which ex# tends across between the sides near the top thereof. This strip H also consists of two parts hinged together in the middle and each part being hinged at the ends to the sides, so that the strip may fold inward, as shown in Fig. 4,.-and this strip H is connected to the bottom of the cart by means of a piece of iiexible material, such as canvas, rubber, cloth, or the like, (represented at L) and this exible material is also secured to the rear of the sides, but in such a manner as to leave a fold (shown at I in Fig. 4) upon each side, so that the back of the cart may be tilted rearward to change the same into a reclining go-cart. This back may be adjusted in the following'manner: The strip H is hinged to the bottom end of the sides by means of the rods H, extending downward from the strip H. J represents curved slotted bars secured to the strip H upon each side and are curved concentrically with the pivotal point of the rods H'.

into an opening K3, provided in the sides, so-

as to hold the handle-bars lin their extended position. L is the cross-piece of the handle- J represents pins secured to the sides and extendlnginward therefrom through bars, which is pivoted to the outer end of one i handle-bar and is adapted to be hooked upon the outer end of the other handle-bar.

M represents the forward or foot-board portion of the gocart, and consists of two sides N pivoted to the sides F at the point N'. The two sides N are Iioined together at their forward end by the folding stripv O, -which consists of two parts hinged together'at the center, an d each part being hinged to the sides N, so as to fold inward, these two parts of the strip O being held in alinement when in their extended position by means of the clip O, pivoted to one of the parts of the strip and adapted to fit over the other part, as shown in ICO Fig. 2. The bottom of this forward portion is composed of a iiexible material,(represented at 1),) and this forward portion is held against folding' by means of the spring-latches Q, secured upon the forward end of each of the sides lF and adapted to spring into openings provided in the sides N.

R represents the forward wheels journaled in suitable bearings depending from the sides N of the forward portion.

In folding the go-cart the clip O' is thrown back, as shown in Fig` 4, so as to allow the strip Oto fold inward. Then by releasing the spring-latches Q the forward portion of the go-cart may be rocked rearward between the wheels A, as shown in Fig. 3,' and by removing the cross-piece L from one of the handlebars and folding the same in alinement with the handle-bar to which it is attached these handle-bars and cross-piece may be then folded in the position shown in Fig. 3 by springing the dowel-pins out of the openings and rocking the handle-bars downward toward the axle. rIhen by folding' the bottom G upward, folding the braces D, and by folding the strip H inward the two sides of the cart and wheels may be brought close together, so as to form an extremely narrow package, and the handles S secured to each side of the sides F will furnish a means for carrying the folded cart or the same may be packed in a trunk or dresssuit case.

Thus it will be seen that by this construction I am enabled to provide a folding crate which may be manufactured at a comparatively small cost, be composed of few parts,

will be durable when extended, and may be.

folded quickly and easily into an extremely compact package.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it is well understood that the framework of the cart may be made of ratan or any other material desired. l

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is# 1. In a folding go-cart of the character described, a body composed of a seat portion and a foot-rest, the seat portion being composed of two sides, a seat and a back, two large wheels journaled in bearings carried by the sides of the seat portion, a folding brace connecting the two journals of the main wheels, the seat so formed as to fold inward, the back hinged so as to fold inward, handlebars pivoted to the sides, a cross-piece pivoted to one handle-bar and removably secured to the other handlebar, said handle-bars adapted to fold downward toward the axle, means for holding the handle-bars in their normal position, the foot-rest portion pivoted to the sides of the seat portion and adapted to fold inward between the main wheels, said foot-rest consisting' of two sides, a front strip connecting the two sides, said strip being hinged so as to fold inward, means for holding said strip in its normal or extended position, and two front wheels journaled in suitable bearings depending from the foot-rest portion, as specified.

2. In a folding go-cart, a seat portion and foot-rest portion, said seat portion composed of two sides, a seat and a back, two large main wheels arranged upon each side of the go-cart, boxes secured to the sides of the seat portion, a block adapted to slide vertically in said boxes in which the main wheel is journaled, springs interposed between the blocks and the boxes, a folding brace connecting the boxes, the seat being composed of two parts hinged together 'at the center so as to fold inward and also hinged to the sides, the back consisting of a strip extending between the sides near the top thereof, said strip being composed of two bars hinged together at the center so as to fold inward, each part being hinged to one side, a flexible material connecting said strip with the seat, said back hinged to the sides near the lower end so as to form a reclining-back, means for holding the back in any position set, handle-bars pivoted to each of the sides, means for holding the handle-bars in their upright position, a cross-bar pivoted to the outer end of one handle-bar and removably secured to the outer end of the other handle-bar, said handle-bars and cross-piece adapted to be folded downward between the main wheels, the foot-rest portion pivoted to the forward lower end of the sides of the seat portion so as to swing inward between the main wheels, means for holding the foot-rest in its extended position, said foot-rest portion consisting of two sides, abottom of flexible material, a front crossstrip consisting' of two parts hinged together at the center so as to fold inward, and each part being hinged to the sides of the footrest portion, two wheels journaled in suitable bearings depending from the sides of the footrest portion, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a folding go-cart, a body composed of a seat portion and foot-rest portion, said seat portion consisting of two sides, a seat and a back, two boxes secured to the sides, sliding blocks arranged within the boxes, two main wheels journaled in said blocks, springs interposed between the upper ends of the blocks and the boxes, a folding brace consisting' of two parts hinged together at the center, the ends of each part being hinged to the boxes, the seat being hinged at each side to the sides and pivoted in the center, the two parts being hinged together so as to fold inward, the back consisting of a strip extending across between the sides at the top and rear portion thereof, said strip consisting of two parts hinged to the sides and also hinged together at the center so as to fold inward,

IOO

rods extending downward from the outer end of each part of this strip, the lower end of said rods being hinged to the sides so as to form a `reclining-back, means for holding the back in any position set, flexible material secured to the back strip, the seat and sides so as to complete the back, handle-bars, one pivoted to each side, dowel-pins extending inward from each handle-bar at the lower end thereof below the pivotal point, the sides being provided with openings in which the dowel-pins are adapted to spring to hold the handle-bars upright, a cross-bar pivoted to the outer end of one handle-bar and removably secured to the outer end of the other handlebar, the foot-rest portion pivoted to the seat portion so as to fold inward between the main wheels, latches for holding the foot-rest portion in its extended position, said foot-rest portion consisting' or' two sides, a flexible bottom and a front eonnecting-strip, said front connecting-strip being formed of two mennbers hinged to the sides and hinged togetherl` scribing witnesses.

JOHN B. ROHRER. Witnesses:

FRED. lV. CAssIDY, VILLIAM KING. 

